Customer Reviews
Good but very limited in important regards. - By: Workaholic, 04 Jan 2009 
I'll give it three stars as it will get you interestedin the subject but there are better sources. If it wasn't for the shear volume of information I would be looking at a SUBSTANTIALLY lower rating.
If you are working hard & have very little time to study the subject, absolutely avoid it.
Something is provided on a lot of exercises & each body part is split into the component parts. For volume it's great. For quality, & STRESS of WHAT WILL WORK, it's star rating is reduced to 1 star. Nothing is offered on Intensity Cycling, the tool you will actually be using dailyin the gym & what is offeredin terms of good GOOD FORM (how to actually do the exercises) is very limited. It promotes a training style which will not accomodate good recovery & hence stimulation of growth. It's really aimed at drug assisted genetically superior trainees. When it does stress Progressive Resistance training, nothing is really offered. No system, nothing.
If you'rein school/college/just got made redundant & want to read it, go for it. If you're busy 24/7 & want to figure this now, get the gains & find out which exercises will stimulate increasesin growth (and not lead to overtraining, & waist time using isolation exercises that will stimulate the body you want), go to "Beyond Brawn" & "the insider's tell-all handbook on weight-training technique" & get your new hobby going ASAP.
I read Arnie's book first then read them other two books & can't help think that I've procrastinated valuable time I could have spent down the gym.
It's key fault is lack of stress. Just saying "progressive poundage is key" & "this exercise is for mass & this is for finishing" is clearly not enough.
If the info inside doesn't make you bigger, just start lifting the book. - By: a trainer, 30 Sep 2008 
This book is exactly what it says it is- an encyclopedia. It is divided into no less than five "books." Measuringin at about one & a half inches thick, if the info contained inside doesn't help you get bigger, just try lifting the book!
A quick rundown of each chapter. The first book is basically an introduction to bodybuilding, covering a lot of miscellaneous, but important topics. The second book covers the training programs, the third the body part exercises, & the fourth book competing. The fifth & last book covers nutrition & diets.
As you can tell, there's really only one word to describe this book- comprehensive. Would have liked to see a little more on injuries, for example there only about a half page on shoulder injuries, but then again this isn't exactly a sports medicine book either. Weightlifters who have a shoulder problem or rotator cuff tear might also want to take a look at Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff.
dont bother.... - By: ian, 09 Jun 2008 
when i bought this book(december 2006) i had high hopes. i like many others thought that because arnold had a terrific physique he obviously had superior knowledge than anyone elsein the bodybuilding world. im fairly ectomorphic, skinny, small jointed etc, so i wanted to build myself up to a respectable size, so i got started on the routinein the book & what happened? i did 4months solid of 6 days a week every week & had pretty much nothing to show for it, mainly just reduced bodyfat due to long workouts & anyone who thinks its because i didnt work hard enough is wrong. overtraining is what comes to mind when i think of this book. i respect arnold alot because of what hes acheived, but the advicein this bookin totally worthless unless your taking loads of steroids like many idiots do. not long after quiting the arny routine i stumbled across the works of mike mentzer(who i had no previous knowledge of)and it seemed pretty radical when i read his book(1 set to failure, short workouts etc)and part of me thought it wouldnt work even though he explained it so well & was scientific & logical. well what can i say i started doing routines from mentzers book(hit training the mike mentzer way)in may 2007 &in a year ive packed on 25 pounds of muscle from 1 workout a week, 20 mins a workout. many might jump to defend arnolds book, but ask yourself this- how much are you gaining? are you gaining regularly? are you using steroids to aid recovery? have you got amazing genetics so you can gain doing any routine? its funny how many people think they know how bodybuilding works just because they were already blessed with a great physique, ive got a mate who trains haphazardly & gains fairly easy & he thinks he knows it all but when you talk to him its quite clear he knows nothing. if your a hard gainer & you follow the arny routines you will sooner or later start to get smaller due to overtraining. soin a nutshell i dont rate this book at all purely because the "advice" is crap for any natural bodybuilder.
The "mother" of all fitness books! - By: Kendra, 06 May 2008 I am not a bodybuilder but this book is not just for bodybuilders. This book is for anyone who works out & wants more information on weight lifting, strength training, or body building. It is for anyone that works out with weights. It is the best book I have on the subject, & I have several shelves devoted to exercise, fitness, training, etc.
This 800 page book is divided into 5 smaller books. Book 1 is an Introduction to Bodybuilding & includes everything from the evolution & history of bodybuilding to equipment you might need to get started. Book 2 is called Training Programs, & includes basic training principles, stretching, basic & advanced programs, & using your mind to really focus & work your muscles to their fullest. Book 3 is called Body Part Exercises & teaches a lot about anatomy as well as including full descriptions (with pics) of almost every exercise under the sun that will work each body part. Book 4 includes everything you might want to know or need to know about competitions, & Book 5 covers Health, Nutrition, & Diet.
This book has helped me immensely! Although I haven't followed Arnold's recommended specific routines, I have learned so much from this book I have been able to bring to my own workouts. It is surprisingly interesting, well-written, & completely informative. I have learned so much more about proper form, specifics regarding nutrition, & new exercises I had not tried before. And, although it is called an "encyclopedia", the truth is, it's a book that is fun to read-- there is such an abundance of information here that make the book very difficult to put down.
The book is paperback, but it's very well made. The binding has withstood a lot of reading & bending-- the spine & pages are still intact. The book is illustrated with many helpful black & white photos & the pages are high quality with only a little gloss-- very easy to read.
AWESOME - By: William Hughes, 07 Apr 2008 This book transformed by approach to working out. before i had no goals & no structure. now every workout is intense & i ache the next day. a real gem of a guide on bodybuilding
